Parametric investigation of a hybrid vehicle's achievable fuel economy with optimization based energy management strategy

The hybrid electric powertrain is a robust solution that allows for major improvements in both fuel economy and emission reduction. In the present study, a through-the-road hybrid vehicle model with an electric motor driving the rear axle and an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) driving the front axle has been constructed. We then present a systematic method for the determination of a real time applicable optimal Energy Management Strategy (EMS) for a hybrid road vehicle. More precisely, we compare the performance of rule-based EMS strategies to an optimization-based strategy, namely ECMS (Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy). The comparison is conducted in parallel with a parameterization of the size of the internal combustion engine and the implementation of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that allows following the line of best fuel economy. For the FTP-75 driving cycle, the constrained engine On-off control algorithm is shown to offer a 28% improvement potential of fuel consumption compared to the conventional internal combustion engine while the ECMS strategy achieves an improved potential of nearly 33%.